‘For my children’: Different functions of the agricultural landscape and attitudes of farmers on different areas of Greece towards small scale landscape change

Farmers' attitudes towards landscape change reveal a complex interplay between deep emotional attachment to land and farming traditions, and market pressures. A study comparing three Greek regions—Koropi (urban sprawl), Zagori (abandonment), and Lesvos (urbanization)—found that while farmers share common values across these diverse landscapes, conflicts arise from the tension between preserving heritage and adapting to economic demands. This duality underscores the need for rural policies that balance cultural preservation with market-driven changes, offering critical insights for sustainable land use strategies.

Kizos, T., Vasdeki, M., Chatzikiriakou, C., & Dimitriou, D. (2011). ‘For my children’: Different functions of the agricultural landscape and attitudes of farmers on different areas of Greece towards small scale landscape change. Geografisk Tidsskrift-Danish Journal of Geography, 111(2), 117–130. https://doi.org/10.1080/00167223.2011.10669528